New Technology Reviews!.: mobile

Sony Ericsson Announces Qriocity Video Service for Xperia Devices

Sony Ericsson Announces Qriocity Video Service for Xperia Devices

Today the good folks at Sony Ericsson have let the world know that a brand new video service for Xperia phones will be launching starting...

White Samsung Galaxy S2 official and coming to Three

White Samsung Galaxy S2 official and coming to Three

You remember when we told you the Samsung Galaxy S2 was getting a white variant? Well, it's only gone and got all official! That...

Week in Tech: Is Mango too little too late for Windows Phone?

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It's been an exciting week in the world of mobile devices: Microsoft's Mango, the latest version of Windows Phone, is en route to manufacturing - although it'll be a few weeks before we get it.</div>
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As Chris Smith points out, it's been a long wait. "The upgrade was announced in May, so by the time the autumn comes around Mango will be around 6 months in the making," he says. "Get a move on, guys!"</div>
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There's a lot in Mango - "The Windows Phone Mango update brings 250 new features to the operating system, including Internet Explorer 9 integration and app multi-tasking," Smith says - and of course, we've got an in-depth guide to the whole thing. But is it good enough to put Microsoft on top of the mobile world?</div>
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There's no doubt that Windows Phone is getting massively spanked by Apple and Android, and Gareth Beavis wonders "whether Microsoft is doing enough to really become a front running mobile OS provider." Mango should have shipped a long time ago, he argues, and the focus should have shifted to Tango, the brilliantly named successor to Mango.</div>
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Beavis argues that the problem isn't with the technology. "I think the approach is spot on, as by focusing on the UI and intuition of the phone, rather than the raw functionality, you're giving the handsets the best chance of attracting the new smartphone user that has a play with a phone in the shop, and that's a very important demographic indeed."</div>
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Where are the handsets?</div>
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The problem is with the play-in-the-shop bit. Where are the phones? "It's perplexing to see no new handsets from the big manufacturers already - I was really hoping to have a good 10-15 phones to choose from on the market to show people Microsoft was serious about the project... come on HTC, Samsung et al: let's see some cool Windows Phone models in the near future."</div>
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Perhaps Microsoft's partners have been too busy mucking around with Android: Samsung might not have a slate of Windows Phones to impress you with, but it's doing a fine job flogging Android devices such as its Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy Tab tablets. The Galaxy S2 won our prestigious phone of the year award, one of several triumphs for Android, which bagged the Best OS award by eight votes to one.</div>
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While Microsoft bets its mobile future on Mango, there's another new entrant in the mobile OS war - or at least, there might be. Mozilla has unveiled plans to create a brand new open operating system that it calls Boot To Gecko.</div>
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The aim is "to pursue the goal of building a complete, standalone operating system for the open web", but our columnist Gary Marshall warns that that's an enormously difficult thing to pull off.</div>
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"No matter how good your tech," he writes, "you need to persuade handset manufacturers to build devices running it; you need to persuade mobile phone operators to stock and support it; you need to persuade app developers to code for it; and you need to persuade end users to buy it. Fail to win over any one of those groups and you might as well stay in bed."</div>
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He continues: "That's Nokia-scale stuff, BlackBerry-scale stuff, Microsoft-scale stuff, and even those firms are finding things difficult in mobile... Mozilla's right when it warns that the mobile web is becoming increasingly closed. But I can't help thinking that unless it gets a Google-sized backer, it's planning to bring a spud gun to a tank battle."</div>
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Week in Tech: Is Mango too little too late for Windows Phone?

It's been an exciting week in the world of mobile devices: Microsoft's Mango, the latest version of Windows Phone, is en route ...

Google Music Beta gives each current user invites to share

Google Music Beta gives each current user invites to share

Back in May, we talked about the Google Music Beta service that was set to launch. The launch of the cloud service was open to invitation...

ARM alchemy turns ubiquity into gold, profits up 25 percent

ARM alchemy turns ubiquity into gold, profits up 25 percent

A 25 percent rise in profits might look modest compared to the 167 percent explosion announced at the end of Q2 last year, but we doubt...

Gary Marshall: Who wants a Firefox phone?

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You've got to admire Mozilla. This is an organisation whose people don't know the word "can't".</div>
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If Mozilla had a disappointing holiday at Butlin's, it wouldn't bother writing an angry letter: it'd promise to build its own holiday camp and let everybody in for free.</div>
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Mozilla's biggest claim to fame, of course, is Firefox: faced with Microsoft's effective monopoly on web browsers, Mozilla built a better browser, spread the word and rebooted the web. So it's interesting to see the organisation's latest target: Google.</div>
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Mozilla isn't happy about two things. It's unhappy about the way that apps are segregating the web, with native apps able to access smartphone and tablet hardware that web-based apps can't; and it's unhappy that with Android, Google appears to be more mouth than trousers. For all Google's talk of openness and sharing with the open source community, there are often long delays between Google releasing new versions of Android and sharing its code with the wider world.</div>
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Mozilla's solution is codenamed Boot To Gecko, and it promises to be a brand new mobile OS. But will it work?</div>
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'Roid rage</div>
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There's no doubt that Android has issues - not just the speed of Google's sharing, but the patent claims that threaten to disrupt Android's momentumand scare manufacturers - and Mozilla is absolutely right that web apps could be as good as native ones.</div>
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Apple's desire to get a cut of everything that's viewable on a Retina Display hardly instils confidence, and Microsoft would no doubt try similar antics if it had the market share.</div>
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What worries me is that Mozilla's solution won't work. It's a tough one to call, because so far Boot to Gecko is a topic for discussion rather than a defined plan, but it looks like there are two main possibilities here: an alternative OS that Android users have to seek out, install and then boot into when they want to use its apps, or a whole new mobile OS.</div>
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If it's the former, it's not going to give Google anything to worry about. And if it's the latter, I fear Mozilla is trying to punch above its weight. A rival operating system is whole different ball game, desktop Linux versus Windows rather than Firefox versus Internet Explorer, and it's one where I fear Mozilla isn't big enough or strong enough to compete.</div>
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Creating a popular mobile OS is a battle on multiple fronts, and the technology is almost irrelevant. No matter how good your tech, you need to persuade handset manufacturers to build devices running it; you need to persuade mobile phone operators to stock and support it; you need to persuade app developers to code for it; and you need to persuade end users to buy it. Fail to win over any one of those groups and you might as well stay in bed.</div>
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That's Nokia-scale stuff, BlackBerry-scale stuff, Microsoft-scale stuff, and even those firms are finding things difficult in mobile: Nokia's MeeGo adventure appears to be over, RIM's laying off staff and Microsoft admits that Windows Phone isn't doing the numbers it'd like.</div>
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I think Mozilla's right when it warns that the mobile web is becoming increasingly closed. But I can't help thinking that unless it gets a Google-sized backer, it's planning to bring a spud gun to a tank battle.</div>
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Gary Marshall: Who wants a Firefox phone?

You've got to admire Mozilla. This is an organisation whose people don't know the word "can't". If Mozilla had ...

Get Your Google+ Invite from AndroidCommunity!

<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="149" src="http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3874/screenshot20110630at122.png" title="Screen shot 2011-06-30 at 12.27.46 PM" width="324" />Google just launched their new social networking plan and they are calling it Google+. With the million of Android owners and Gmail users and the rest of the population using some sort of product of Google, they seem to be in a good spot right about now. Google has already developed a great mobile application for Android and an iOS version is on the way, then the rest is done all via the web. Get your Google+ invite and start sharing thoughts or pictures with all your friends and family just like on any other platform. For now Invitations are closed and the program is in Beta, but once they start allowing invites again we’ll take care of you. <img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-39944 aligncenter" height="219" src="http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/5426/googleyou540x365.png" width="324" /> In case you guys missed it yesterday the program was still considered in closed beta until someone realized there was a Invite button on the lower right side of the screen while viewing your stream from the web. We all thought they opened the flood gates and everyone started inviting all their friends and family and it quickly became over capacity, but there was no birds holding up a whale over here at Google+. Instead it was quickly shut down and Vic Gundotra posted a little comment crushing everyone’s dreams of joining Google+ last night. While the buzz is still strong we’re assuming Google will be opening the doors again any time now, and we will be ready for them. So for all of our faithful readers that would like to join we will be ready to invite you or at least get you on the growing list of invites for Google to approve. If you would like to leave your Gmail email below in the comments we will be sure to try our hardest to get you invited once the light hits green again. UPDATE: all comments will now be “held for moderation” which means we’ll be the only ones who get to see them. If you commented before this change, your email was collected by us JUST for this Google+ invite post, and for nothing more, and will not be displayed below — this was done due to concern over SPAM, which we do indeed hate! Check out the other stories we have up regarding Google+ while you’re waiting.

Get Your Google+ Invite from AndroidCommunity!

Google just launched their new social networking plan and they are calling it Google+. With the million of Android owners and Gmail users an...

Google+ Widget Included with Google+ App, Pretty Sweet

Google+ Widget Included with Google+ App, Pretty Sweet

It’s becoming quite clear that the folks who designed the user interface for Google+ are quite brilliant. One of those people was Andy Hertz...

Microsoft thinks PlayStation Vita will fail, bets on Windows Phone 7

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Sony-PlayStation-Vita-Next-Gen-Portable-Gaming-Device" border="0" height="288" src="http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3453/sonyplaystationvitanext.jpg" title="Sony-PlayStation-Vita-Next-Gen-Portable-Gaming-Device" width="170" /></div> Xbox COO Dennis Durkin spoke to Industry Gamers about their view of the mobile gaming market, including the recently launched and very powerful PlayStation Vita. "I’m not sure I would want to be launching a dedicated portable device right now into that market. I think the DS – if you look at the 3DS, certainly versus people’s expectation’s it’s not been as successful as people would have thought. So that’s a very crowded market and a very, very red ocean right now with a lot of change happening. So I’m not sure it’s [a good idea]," he said. Microsoft has said repeatedly that Windows Phone 7 was their portable gaming device, and there are increasing evidence of ever deeper integration and capabilities including multiplayer gaming and in-game voice chat in Windows Phone 7 Mango. "You only have a certain number of bets you can make as a company and you have to decide what you want to put your wood behind and I’m just not sure that that’s a place (a dedicated handheld console) that I would put mine." Via <a href="http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/xbox-exec-doubtful-of-playstation-vita-success/" target="_blank">Attackofthefanboy</a>

Microsoft thinks PlayStation Vita will fail, bets on Windows Phone 7

Xbox COO Dennis Durkin spoke to Industry Gamers about their view of the mobile gaming market, including the recently launched and very power...

iPad 3D: tablet makers look to a 3D future

The iPad is going 3D. And you can take that to the bank. It's just a matter of time - and it could happen sooner than you might think. As an army of rival tablets bear down on Apple's golden child, 3D is increasingly looking like its best next step. The internet began buzzing with speculation about the iPad 3 even before Apple closed the doors on the iPad 2 press launch. With Jobs & Co understandably keeping mum on what's to come, the rumour mill has run amok ever since. So we'd thought we'd add some conjecture of our own. <img alt="iPad 2" class="aligncenter" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/tablet%20snaps/TTB01.ipadintro/4x3.ipadintro.main2-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> THIRD DIMENSION: Is Apple planning to introduce 3D with the iPad 3? From a naming point of view it would make a lot of sense Read on and we'll argue why the time is right to make the iPad 3D, how the display tech might work, and recap what's Apple's principal rivals are already doing in 3D space. Next generation 3D display Speculation about the iPad 3 principally focuses on its display - and with good reason. It's the most obvious upgrade Apple can make to its tablet. Currently, the iPad 2 has a 1024x768 resolution screen. But Apple can do better. The Retina Display used by the iPhone 4 has no obvious dot structure and offers crystal clear text. That's because its pixels are just 78 micrometres wide. This so-called Retina Display has given Apple a visible advantage in the mobile phone market and it could well do the same in the increasingly congested tablet arena. Bringing Retina Display technology to the iPad would quadruple its resolution. Hints of a 1536 x 2048 pixel standard are already beginning to emerge, with Apple's Newstand app supporting both 1024 x768 and 1536 x 2048 resolutions. But even a Retina Display isn't a big enough deal to keep the iPad 3 ahead of the competition. It's common knowledge that world's biggest screen manufacturers are fast-tracking autostereoscopic 3D technologies. They see 3D as a driver both for hardware sales and content, but all know full well that consumers would rather not wear 3D goggles if they don't have to. Unfortunately producing large screen auto-3D is difficult. Every plane of depth you create robs the screen of resolution. To bring out a large no-glasses display you have to use a next generation 4K2K panel - that's 8 million pixels give or take. Today's 1920 x 1080 Full HD screens are 2 million pixels. So to produce a no-glasses 3D panel requires four times the resolution as a flat picture - which is exactly the same PPI bump that Apple's 78 micrometers pixel technology allows. Could this technique be used give the iPad no-glasses 3D? The numbers seem to add up. Adding fuel to the three dimensional fire was a demonstration by panel maker CPT (Chunghwa Picture Tubes) at the recent Display Taiwan show (which ran June 14 - 16). On its booth CPT was showing a 3D touchscreen display shoehorned into an iPad case. The display was not autostereoscopic; you had to wear passive 3D glasses to see the demo still images. CPT was saying nothing about the exhibit, but given how cool the end result looked we like to think it's a clear indicator of things to come. So what are Apple's rivals doing? LG has already shown its first 3D tablet. The Optimus Pad has an 8.9 inch 15:9 display, with 1280 x 768 resolution. Unlike the Optimus smartphone, it's not autostereoscopic - it requires you to wear 3D spex. Still, the advantages of its 3D functionality are clear. The Optimus pad, which runs the Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS, has dual 5MP cameras for 3D photography and camcorder stereoscopy. 3D footage can be viewed on the tablet or squirted out to a 3D TV. Meanwhile, over at Computex, Asus has just unveiled the Eee Pad MeMo 3D. This Honeycomb alternative sports a 7-inch parallax barrier no-glasses 3D display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. As a point of difference it bundles a stylus, so you can use it as a digital notepad. However, Asus is banking on 3D games, movies and photos to be a big draw. <img alt="Eee memo" class="aligncenter" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/Eee%20Pad%20MeMo%203D-420-90.jpg" width="420" /> ABOVE: The Eee Pad MeMo HTC has already gone glasses-free 3D with the HTC Evo 3D smartphone. Next step: a 3D HTC tablet? Not really a big leap of the imagination is it? The home entertainment angle The pressure to take tablets into the third dimension will be compounded as the slate market shifts on its orbit and becomes part of the living room entertainment experience. All the major 3D TV vendors are planning home entertainment tablets, positioning them as secondary, personal TV devices. Soon content will flow seamlessly from one to another - and with all decent tellies soon offering 3D compatibility does it really make sense to keep tablets two dimensional? The expert's view Sky's Chief Engineer and 3D evangelist Chris Johns has no doubt about the potential, and user appeal, of auto-3D. "I don't think the technology is there for bigger sets," he told us when we ambushed him at a DTG tech briefing, "but I can't see it being very long before the major tablet manufacturers are delivering some form of 3D offering that you can download to." The man from Sky believes that auto-3D is destined to become the de facto way of watching 3D on smaller screens. "When I first saw the Nintendo 3DS screen I was wowed," he admits. In fact, Johns was so impressed by Nintendo's parallax barrier screen that he offered Ninty codec support, plus 3D content if needed. "It'll be interesting to see how Apple reacts to the increasing number of mobile products which are adopting auto-3D," he told us pointedly. Indeed it will.

iPad 3D: tablet makers look to a 3D future

The iPad is going 3D. And you can take that to the bank. It's just a matter of time - and it could happen sooner than you might think. A...

All About Mobile Viruses

Modern technology advances and so are the viruses for smart phones and mobile phones with internet connectivity. Mobile viruses are like human viruses. It can spread by close contact to a specific host. It can also spread in the same way as computer viruses. Mobile viruses can be transferred through infected files or programs.   Some mobile device has Bluetooth. It is a product of modern technology that transfers data. This is done between different devices through photo sending from cell phone to printer and or address transferring from your Windows mobile phone to computers.   Mobile phones evolve. Their purpose was originally to make people talk to each other while moving. Now they are considered as multi-media devices. It can replace items in the future like:   o game console o messaging terminals o credit cards o digital cameras o TV and others   Cell phones that are merely enabled for talking and SMS are not at risk with viruses. Those that are enabled to handle data or have Bluetooth are susceptible to viruses. Bluetooth technology has few risks so it needs to be manipulated properly. Once virus is installed or received, it will start to look for other Bluetooth devices to infect. Within a 30 feet radius, an enabled Bluetooth mobile device can be infected by another.   How do viruses multiply?   Infected MMS messages will be sent by a virus. It will then proliferate to every listed numbers in your phone memory.   What harm virus can do to your phone?   o The virus can delete or alter all the contact details and calendar entries in your mobile phone. o It can crash, delete or lock up your phone applications. o The virus will appear as pornographic item, free download, or mobile games. o The virus will appear as text messages disguised as friend message's subject line.   Knowingly or unknowingly, the user installs the virus through transferring. Sometimes the virus disguise as a desirable application. It installs the bug without your knowing. It can cause trouble and cash losses, too.   How to avoid mobile viruses?   o Do not enable Bluetooth when not needed. o Accept only file that you know when your Bluetooth is on. o Say "No" for unknown file. o Download materials that are not scanned from sharing network must be avoided. o Delete the infected application program. o Avoid installing unknown applications. o Download only from official websites.   Ways to avoid mobile viruses   1. Network Security   There are mobile versions of anti-virus products that can be used. These are from industry leaders. It includes:   o Norton Smartphone Security for Pocket PC o F-Secure Mobile Antivirus and o Trend Micro Mobile Security-It can protect Windows mobile, Pocket PC, Symbian and Smart phone users o Airscanner Anti-virus-It can protect mobile devices and Pocket PC from Trojans o Commander Mobile Anti-virus- protects Symbian smart phones   2. Blocking Thieves   An important defense to block thieves of data is to enable the password lock. It can be found in the native system setting of PDA.   3. Privacy and Data Protection   To keep your files confidential, password managers and data encryption can help you. Encryption applications are:   o Ilium Software's eWallet Professional for Windows Mobile o Smartphone and o Palm with 256-bit RC4 encryption   A password for lockbox program will be required each time information is to be accessed. It includes bank account, car details, credit cards, and the like. Well-known viruses are:   o Cabir o Duts o Skull o CommWarrior   Viruses and Malware will remain as long as 3G phones are here. Improvement of the productivity levels of mobile devices will expose them more to virus infections. The solution is to implement security measures inside the device such as data encryption and anti-virus software applications.

All About Mobile Viruses

Modern technology advances and so are the viruses for smart phones and mobile phones with internet connectivity. Mobile viruses are like h...

Mobile Devices Security

As this security solution is not such a great idea, other companies have researched, and finally found a new way to prevent cell phones and PDAs theft. This method permits to remotely disable up to four different tasks of a stolen cell phone or PDA, rendering it inoperable. But at the same time data contained in the device are locked. The beauty of this option is that the unit is not damaged in any way - full functionality and data can be easily restored if the device is recovered. Thus, the device is useless to the thief, but it can be reactivated and restored if it is recovered and returned to its rightful owner.   Another new security breach has been encountered this year when reports were received about a backdoor Trojan horse program that can take control over a mobile device. This is the first known backdoor Trojan horse for PDAs. The subject program, identified as Backdoor.Brador.A, attacks PDAs running the Windows operating system. And like all backdoors, it cannot spread by itself. The Trojan arrives as an e-mail attachment or can be downloaded from the Internet. Also, it has a complete set of destructive functions characteristic for backdoors. After it is installed, this small program is activated when the PDA is restarted and begins to look for a remote administrator to take control of the device. Security specialists claim the virus was written by a Russian virus coder since it was attached to an e-mail with a Russian sender address and contained Russian text. Fortunately, the Trojan's threat control and removal was rated as "easy".   The important thing about this virus is not the number of devices affected, because this number is very small, but the fact that this is the first one that appeared on the "market" is considered to be very important. We have to admit that it is hardly surprising that viruses have found their way to mobile devices. This is the natural trend. Where technology goes, viruses will follow. As the new technology shifts into the mobile market, these threats will move in that direction also. The specialists from the Kaspersky Labs claim they were expecting a virus attack on a PDA, due to the latest attacks against other mobile devices. Now, the PDA users look at a real danger and it is a well known fact that interested intruders will grab the chance to attack PDAs and mobile phones in the near future. Virus threats development for mobile devices is passing through the same stages as the one for desktops.   Almost at the same time with the appearance of the first Trojan for PDAs, the first virus to affect cell phones has also arrived. This worm is called "Cabir", and it has been spotted by some security specialists who issued an alert concerning the danger. Cabir spreads using a file named "Caribe.sis" and travels across devices working with the Symbian operating system which is used in PDAs and many cell phones. Cabir places itself usually on a mobile device when a user agrees to a transmission showing the text message "Caribe". After that the worm begins a nonstop search particularly for Bluetooth-connected wireless devices to send itself to. Also, the battery's life of the infected device is harshly reduced during this process. The inventors of Cabir did not design the worm to spread massively. It was intended to be a test demonstrating that these mobile devices can be easily infected by viruses because of their rapid maturation. The worm rated with a low risk because it has to be intentionally activated by a mobile phone user, and also allowing the Caribe package requires pressing a button prior the files can be loaded into the receiving phone.   It was predictable that viruses and worms for cell phones and PDAs would appear. This is the end result of the impressive advances made in mobile communication technology in the past years. Over time, cell phones and PDAs turn out to be more PC-like, making them vulnerable to viruses. And because they are more PC-like, smart cell phones and PDAs are mostly used by companies for mission-critical applications and data storage. Also they are used for receiving emails and text messages just like desktop computers. That makes their users just as exposed to viruses and worms. These security concerns can be dealt with software-encryption solutions that need to be attached to the new devices. The encryption technology expands to mobile devices the identical type of security that many companies have organized into their desktop computers. It encrypts data and prevents illegal access to the data stored within the device, which is either lost or stolen.

Mobile Devices Security

As this security solution is not such a great idea, other companies have researched, and finally found a new way to prevent cell phones an...

Amazon thinking of jumping into the mobile payments game, may launch NFC based solution in the fall

<div><img alt="amazon Amazon thinking of jumping into the mobile payments game, may launch NFC based solution in the fall" height="295" src="http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/8804/amazon.jpg" title="Amazon thinking of jumping into the mobile payments game, may launch NFC based solution in the fall" width="462" /></div> We’re barely one week into the second quarter of 2011 and the race is on to declare what new device or technology will be what defines this year. Apple likes to think it’s going to be the iPad 2, we think it’s going to be the flood of dual core smartphones hitting the market starting this summer, but there are a few people out there who say it’s going to be mobile payments, specifically the type that are powered by near field communication (NFC) technology. The ability to pay for goods by doing nothing but swiping your phone at the cash register is an attractive concept, but there’s an entire ecosystem that needs to be built out in order for it to work. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Amazon, the gigantic online store that sells just about anything you’d ever want to own, wants to be the company that solves the mobile wallet problem. They’re not alone. Google is rumored to have teamed up with MasterCard to try and get mobile payments to work. Three out of four of America’s wireless operators have created a new joint venture called Isis and are working with Discover to make mobile payments work. RIM is supposedly doing their own thing. Apple has yet to announce anything, but we’re sure it’ll somehow be linked to iTunes. In short, the whole space is a mess. Back to that Bloomberg report, it says Amazon wants to get brick and mortar retailers to NFC enable all their items so that you can tap on an item and buy it for cheaper from the internet. Now why would store owners sign up for that? If they get a share of the profit, why not? Amazon could potentially alter the whole concept of what a brick and mortar store can be. Instead of it being a place you go to purchase goods, it can be a place you go to get more information, demo a product, and then order it if you like it. Like we said: it’s too early to say what 2011 will be the year of, and if it is mobile payments then it’s impossible to predict who the winner or winners will be.

Amazon thinking of jumping into the mobile payments game, may launch NFC based solution in the fall

We’re barely one week into the second quarter of 2011 and the race is on to declare what new device or technology will be what defines this ...

Samsung and Visa join forces to enable NFC mobile payment at 2012 Olympics

<img alt="" border="1" hspace="4" src="http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7830/samsungvisa04012011.jpg" vspace="4">From a gadgeteer's point of view, one of the best things about the Olympics is its tendency to bring in new technologies to the hosting city. Take the 2012 games, for example: not only are the London Underground stations getting WiFi hotspots, but news has it that Samsung and Visa are holding hands to deliver NFC mobile payment solutions to the city. In fact, more than 60,000 locations in London are already geared up with contactless payment systems, and right now Visa is negotiating with banks to get its contactless cards and mobile phones approved. For the latter, one such device will be Samsung's Olympic and Paralympic Games mobile handset that comes with a Visa-enabled SIM card, and it'll be made available to sponsored athletes as well as various retailers. Furthermore, this alliance will continue after the Olympics, and Visa is rolling out its mobile payment system in many other countries as we speak, so it shouldn't be long before we hear more Visa handset announcements. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/samsung-and-visa-join-forces-to-enable-nfc-mobile-payment-at-201/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">via</A>

Samsung and Visa join forces to enable NFC mobile payment at 2012 Olympics

From a gadgeteer's point of view, one of the best things about the Olympics is its tendency to bring in new technologies to the hosting ...

The 4 Effective Anti-Viruses For Mobile Phones

There are more than forty mobile phone viruses and threats that have been reported. Apparently, these viruses can badly damage your phone and can cause it to be of no use at all. Therefore, getting an anti-virus is vital to keep your mobile running well and efficient.   Zebra Virus Cleaner One of the most effective anti-viruses that you can implement on your mobile phone is the Zebra Virus Cleaner for Symbian OS Smart Phone. This is a dependable anti-virus software that can protect your mobile from being assaulted by malevolent programs. Zebra Virus Cleaner can identify and clean rootkits, Lasco, Cabir, Skulls, plus nearly a thousand of viruses including Trojans and worms from your smart phone. It also provides security for all your personal files and information. Zebra Virus Cleaner scans quickly and gets rid of viruses completely in real time, easy to adopt and has a friendly feature. The users can set the time to scan and update automatically.   The Kaspersky Anti-Virus With the growing recognition of smart phones and communicators, your phones may not be safe from malicious programs that were increasing both in numbers and variety. The Kaspersky Anti-Virus is the appropriate and reliable solution that will keep your mobile phones from such programs that affect the mobile platforms. It was developed and combined the latest technology of the Kasperky Lab technologies, experts in the antivirus field. Their solution offers competent armor for your smart phone and personal files.   Commander Mobile Anti-Virus One of the most effective defends against mobile phones harmful content, unwanted messages and malfunctioning applications is the Commander Mobile Anti-Virus. With this anti-virus, you can scan both the principal memory and memory cards, thus providing an absolute and prompt protection. It can detect viruses such as Cabir and thoroughly remove them from the system.   All files are automatically inspected when they are copied, synchronized, modified, saved, or downloaded. This will definitely put off corruption of your mobile phone files.   F-Secure Mobile Anti-virus F-Secure Mobile Anti-virus is uncomplicated to adopt and does not need excess device resources or pointless user interaction. By design, it examines all files both in the device and on the memory cards. When a corrupted file is found, it is directly isolated to protect all the other data in the system. When the data connection is applied for emails and web browsing, the anti-virus database is updated unnoticeable in the background. F-Secure anti-virus also safeguards mobile computing by bringing together an integrated anti-virus and firewall. This platform makes available a remedy and automated security thru real time. The F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus scans both the incoming and outgoing internet packets to thwart malicious, unsafe, or possibly destructive packets. F-Secure is also uncomplicated to apply.   These mobile software anti-viruses help us to stay composed and prepared for the attacks of malicious programs that can virtually impair the system of our phones. The defenses that they build into the network layer are the most valuable system of protection. In selecting mobile antivirus solution, look for the one that supports your device as well as its operating system. Also, the anti-virus software should be trouble-free to use, has over the air updates and a real time virus scanning and should scan all attachments for viruses. Although anti-viruses may significantly decelerate your mobile phone but it is beyond doubt the best protection.

The 4 Effective Anti-Viruses For Mobile Phones

There are more than forty mobile phone viruses and threats that have been reported. Apparently, these viruses can badly damage your phone ...

Hacking Mobile Phones For Identity Theft

History indicates that we are at the forefront of an era in which criminal hackers develop tools and techniques to steal your money using your own cell phone.Fifteen years ago, cell phones were so bulky and cumbersome, they had to be carried in bags or briefcases. Then they became chunky, heavy bricks. Calls dropped every other minute. Clearly, cell phones have evolved since then. Today's cell phone is a lot more than a phone. It's a computer, one that rivals many desktops and laptops being manufactured today. A cell phone can pretty much do everything a PC can do, including online shopping, banking, and merchant credit card processing.The personal computer started out slow and stodgy, and was mainly used for things like word processing and solitaire. Today, PCs are fast, multimedia machines, capable of performing amazing tasks.There are consequences to the rapid evolution of these technologies.A decade ago, during the slow, dial up era, hackers (and, in the beginning, phreakers) hacked for fun and fame. Many wreaked havoc, causing problems that crippled major networks. And they did it without today's sophisticated technology.Meanwhile, the dot-com boom and bust occurred. Then, as e-commerce picked up speed, high speed and broadband connections made it easier to shop and bank online, quickly and efficiently. Around 2003, social networking was born, in the form of online dating services and Friendster. PCs became integral to our fiscal and social lives. We funneled all our personal and financial information onto our computers, and spent more and more of our time on the Internet. And the speed of technology began to drastically outpace the speed of security. Seeing an opportunity, hackers began hacking for profit, rather than fun and fame.Now, iPhones and other smart phones have become revolutionary computers themselves. For the next generation, the phone is replacing the PC. AT&T recently announced that they'll be upping the speed of the latest version of their 3G network, doubling download speeds. It has been reported that the next iPhone will have 32 gigabytes. That's more hard drive than my three year old laptop.So naturally, criminal hackers are considering the possibilities offered by cell phones today, just as they were looking at computers five years ago.Two things have changed the game: the speed and advancement of technology and spyware. Spyware was created as a legitimate technology for PCs. Spyware tracks and records social network activities, online searches, chats, instant messages, emails sent and received, websites visited, keystrokes typed and programs launched. It can be the equivalent of digital surveillance, revealing every stroke of the user's mouse and keyboard. Parents can use spyware to monitor their young children's surfing habits and employers can make sure their employees are working, as opposed to surfing for porn all day.Criminal hackers created a cocktail of viruses and spyware, which allows for the infection and duplication of a virus that gives the criminal total, remote access to the user's data. This same technology is being introduced to cell phones as "snoopware." Legitimate uses for snoopware on phones do exist: silently recording caller information, seeing GPS positions, monitoring kids' and employees' mobile web and text messaging activities. Criminal hackers have taken the snoopware and spyware technology even further. Major technology companies agree that almost any cell phone can be hacked into and remotely controlled. Malicious software can be sent to the intended victim disguised as a picture or audio clip, and when the victim clicks on it, malware is installed.One virus, called "<a href="http://www.viruslist.com/en/viruses/encyclopedia?virusid=113394" rel="nofollow" target="_new">Red Browser</a>," was created specifically to infect mobile phones using Java. It can be installed directly on a phone, should physical access be obtained, or this malicious software can be disguised as a harmless download. Bluetooth infared is also a point of vulnerability. Once installed, the Red Browser virus allows the hacker to remotely control the phone and its features, such as the camera and microphone.The Kuykendalls, of Tacoma, Washington, found that several of their phones had been hijacked in order to spy on them. They say the hacker was able to turn a compromised phone on and off, use the phone's camera to take pictures, and use the speakerphone as a bug. If history is any indication of the future, mobile phones, just like computers, will soon be regularly hacked for financial gain. Prepare for mCrime in the form of credit card fraud, identity theft and data breaches.

Hacking Mobile Phones For Identity Theft

History indicates that we are at the forefront of an era in which criminal hackers develop tools and techniques to steal your money using...

Latest mobile phones 2011: hottest handsets reviewed

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Samsung/GALAXY%20Ace%20(S5830)%20Product%20image%20(1)-200-200.jpg"> In the ever-changing mobile market, it can be hard to keep pace with the latest mobile phone trends. That's why we've put together this hub for our new mobile phone reviews: to give you the ideal jumping-on point for understanding the most current handsets around. We cover a plethora of brands, including Apple, HTC, Nokia, Palm and Blackberry, and operating systems, such as Android, iOS and Windows Phone 7, so you should find something that piques your interest here. In short, if you're seeking a new mobile phone, this is a great place to start.Nokia C2-01 <img alt="Nokia c2-01" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Nokia/Nokia%20C2-01/pr/Nokia%20C2-01%201-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> With the <a href="">ink now dry on the contract between Nokia and Microsoft</A>, the C2-01 is among the last of a dying breed: a Symbian OS-toting Nokia mobile. Oh, and it's sans touchscreen, too. Yes, for a new mobile phone, it's decidedly old-school. That said, it's cheap, simple and devoid of anything more fancy than a 3G connection, which will suit minimalists. But can it really hold up in market dominated by smartphones?HTC Incredible S <img alt="HTC incredible s" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/HTC/HTC%20Incredible%20S/PR%20Shots/15127-htcincredibles1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Incredible by name and only slightly less so by nature, this phone is HTC's entry into the underpopulated 4-inch touchscreen arena. In fact, it's among the first UK handsets to fill that niche, but more are on the horizon. It's blessed with HTC's slick Sense UI and a high-quality screen, but is this latest mobile phone's foibles enough to warrant waiting for its incoming competitors, or the <a href="">HTC Desire S</A>? Samsung Galaxy Ace <img alt="Samsung galaxy ace" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Samsung/GALAXY%20Ace%20%28S5830%29%20Product%20image%20%281%29-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> With a middle-of-the-range spec, 800Mhz processor and iPhone-aping looks, it may be hard to see why it's worth buying into the new Galaxy Ace. However, its Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS makes a considerable difference and is, in fact, this phone's ace in the hole. It won't cost you the Earth either, so look deeper and you may find just what you were looking for. Motorola Atrix <img alt="Motorola atrix" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Motorola/Motorola%20Atrix/pr/ATRIX%204G_Front_Home_ATT-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Smartphones have long been encroaching on the computing market, but the Atrix is annexing new turf. How? By including a built-in desktop OS and the ability to turn your phone into a so-called webtop computer. What's more, the dual-core 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM that come stuffed into the Atrix should mean a blisteringly fast smartphone experience too. Follow the link to find out more about the Atrix's brand of magic. HTC Gratia <img alt="HTC gratia" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/HTC/HTC%20Gratia/Press%20shots/HTC%20Gratia-Green%20Back-Front-Left-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Beneath the Gratia's divisive outer shell lies a great core experience that belies its slow-on-paper 600MHz processor. That sweet and gooey centre is down to the magic combination of Android 2.2 and HTC Sense. Upon it lie layers of extra functionality, but a few of these are soured by poor implementation. Read our review to see if the resulting flavour of smartphone is something you can stomach. Nokia C5-03 <img alt="Nokia c5-03" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Nokia/C5-03/PR%20Shots/nokia-c5-03_trio-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> A minor upgrade to last year's<a href="">C5</A>, the C5-03 could be a good place to start if you're new to this whole smartphone thing. It's easy to use and has great battery life, plus the interface will be familiar to many. That said, it's not the fastest or most powerful beast, so let our review help you weigh up if it's really what you need. HTC 7 Pro <img alt="HTC 7 pro" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/HTC/HTC%207%20Pro/pr/HTC%207%20Pro-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The only QWERTY keyboard in our latest mobile phone list, this is one of the first Windows Phone 7 mobiles to break cover since the OS's October launch died down, the HTC 7 Pro's headline feature is the slide-out keyboard that so many touchscreen smartphones eschew these days in favour of onscreen replacements. While it didn't always push our buttons, the great screen, solid build and sound battery life mean it's still worth considering this able companion. LG Optimus 2X <img alt="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///classifications/Mobile%20Phones/LG/LG_Optimus_2x.jpg" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///classifications/Mobile%20Phones/LG/LG_Optimus_2x-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> A dual-core Tegra 2 processor, Android 2.2 and 1080p video recording from an eight-megapixel camera should all combine to make the LG Optimus 2X a potential powerhouse, especially for video. But how does this 4-inch WVGA-screened monolith really perform, and can it invalidate all that's come before? Our early review with the pre-release software might still have some questions unanswered, but early signs show this dual-core wonder might lack the grunt we were all hoping for.Samsung Wave 2 <img alt="Sasmung wave 2" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Samsung/Samsung%20Wave%20II/pr/Samsung%20Wave%20II%20GT-S8538%20PR%20image-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The second incarnation of the Wave has now washed up on UK shores, bringing with it an updated version of Samsung's own Bada OS in the Wave 2. The hardware it powers is undeniably great, with a 3.7-inch Super Clear LCD screen that lives up to its name and 1GHz of processing power. But can the OS ride that wave successfully, or is it a software wipe out? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/samsung-wave-ii-gt-s8530-927543/review"></A>Nokia C6-01 <img alt="Nokia c6-01" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Nokia/C6-01/Official%20Gallery/c6-01_silver_grey_front_l_604x604-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The C6-01 is sure to divide opinion. Some would call the UI comfortable and familiar; others would say it's old. It's hardly a slinky number either, and some cuts have been made to keep the price low. On the flip side, it won't mean the gaping hole in your wallet that high-end mobiles are sure to inflict, and it can deliver much of the same functionality. Wrap your head around its intricacies by following the link below. <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/98669742800/u/49/f/9809/c/669/s/13a3faaa/kg/201-216/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/98669742800/u/49/f/9809/c/669/s/13a3faaa/kg/201-216/a2.img"></A><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~4/0jOitbcRNEA" width="1"><img border="0" height="1" src="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/13a3f05c/mf.gif" width="1"> <DIV class=mf-related><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/ywqJ6WUl0oE/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A></DIV>

Latest mobile phones 2011: hottest handsets reviewed

In the ever-changing mobile market, it can be hard to keep pace with the latest mobile phone trends. That's why we've put together t...

The best new mobile phones at CES 2011

<div align="center"><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/Motorola/atrix/atrix7-200-200.jpg" /></div>If tablet devices and Android 3.0 are hogging the limelight at CES 2011, new mobile phones aren't far behind. 
 
 
We've seen a flurry of new handsets that, technologically speaking, outclass the iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire HD. Which one of these do you fancy? 
Dell Venue 
Also available in a Windows Phone 7-powered 'Pro' version, the new Venue keyboard-less Venue brushes the big screen/aged Android silliness of the Dell Streak under the carpet. This good-looking Android 2.2 phone features a 1GHz processor, a sensible 4.1-inch AMOLED/Gorilla Glass display and an 8MP camera. 
LG Optimus 2x 
The Optimus 2x was actually announced pre-CES, but we've had a chance to play with this ground-breaking dual-core smartphone on the show floor. It's the first phone to feature Nvidia's Tegra 250 processor, which incorporates ARM's Cortex A9 CPU. With a 4-inch WVGA touchscreen display, 8MP digital camera and 1080p video capture, what's not to like? 
LG Optimus Black 
<div align="center"><img alt="LG optimus black" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/LG%20Optimus%20Black%20review/DSCF3968-420-100.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
LG also unveiled the Optimus Black handset at CES, which lacks the dual-core grunt of the 2X but makes up for it in other areas. For example, this handset is a mere 9.2mm thick, beating the iPhone 4 for skinniness. It also features what LG calls a NOVA display, a 4-inch touchscreen that claims to be more efficient than Super AMOLED. 
Motorola Atrix 
While Motorola has grabbed CES headlines with its Xoom tablet, its Android 2.2-powered Atrix smartphone could be a pocketable force to be reckoned with. Like the LG Optimus 2X, the Atrix is a dual-core handset with 1GB of memory, up to 48GB of storage, front and rear cameras and a stunning qHD (960x540 pixel) display. 
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc 
<div align="center"><img alt="Sony ericsson xperia arc" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/Sony%20Ericsson/Xperia%20Arc/Sony_Ericsson_Xperia_Arc_10-420-100.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
While we wait for some more solid information about Sony Ericsson's 'PlayStation phone', the new Xperia Arc looks to challenge the smartphone elite. Forget the ho-hum X10 and X8 models, because the Arc features Android 2.3, 8.1MP digital snapper and an eye-catching 4.2-inch 'Reality display' with pixel processing courtesy of Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine. 
ViewSonic ViewPad 4 
Despite ViewSonic's attempts to call it a 'pad', with its 4-inch screen the ViewPad 4 is small enough to act as a smartphone. The problem is this: ViewSonic has equipped it with technology from 2010 rather than looking ahead to 2011. So you get a 1GHz processor rather than a dual-core one; a 5MP camera, not an 8MP lens. Excitement factor? Very close to zero. 
New HTC handsets for the US… 
Along with Samsung, Apple and Motorola, HTC is one of the hottest mobile manufacturers on the planet and it's unveiled several new Android 4G phones for the US market at CES. 
There's the unremarkable Evo Shift 4G, which features an 800MHz CPU, 3.6-inch display and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The LTE-friendly HTC Thunderbolt sounds more impressive. It boasts a 4.3-inch WVGA screen, Android 2.2 and Skype video calling built-in. 
Lastly there's the HTC Inspire 4G, which features Android 2.2, a 1GHz Snapdragon chip, 4.3-inch WVGA display and an 8MP digital camera. 
Motorola Droid Bionic 
Although never released in the UK, the Motorola Droid X has long been one of the best (and biggest) Android phones around. The new Droid Bionic model ramps up the specification with Android 2.2, a dual-core CPU and a 4.3-inch qHD display, 8MP camera and 4G/LTE connectivity. 
Samsung Infuse 4G 
This is another 4G phone for the US, but notable for its brand-spanking-new 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display that blows Super AMOLED right out of the water. It might not be a dual-core monster, but the 1.2GHz Hummingbird chip is still nippy. Add to this an 8MP rear camera and front-facing 1.3MP lens for video chat and you've got an impressive mobile on your hands. 
So what about iPhone 5? 
The launch of the dual-core LG Optimus 2X and the Motorola Atrix make the iPhone 4 feel a little… well, a little oudated if we're honest. And if the iPhone's speediness is being eclipsed, its Retina Display is being challenged by Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus, Sony Ericsson's Reality Display, not to mention the qHD displays on the Droid Bionic and Motorola Atrix. 
Time for an iPhone 5? Absolutely. Find out what it could feature by reading TechRadar's iPhone 5 rumours. 
What new mobile phone are you most looking forward to in 2011? Has one of the new dual-core Android phones caught your eye? Let us know below. 
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The best new mobile phones at CES 2011

If tablet devices and Android 3.0 are hogging the limelight at CES 2011, new mobile phones aren't far behind. We've seen a flurry...

Channel Tunnel to get mobile coverage by 2012 Olympics?

<img src="http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5391/highblurrytubetunnel200.jpg"> Plans are afoot to bring mobile phone connectivity for passengers travelling on the Channel Tunnel in time for the 2012 London Olympics. The four British networks, Vodafone O2, Everything Everywhere (Orange and T-Mobile) and Three are ready to join forces with their counterparts in France to share the costs of the £20m project. According to a report in today's Daily Telegraph, the plan is to lay out the full 31.4-mile route from Dover to Calais to enable passengers to use their phones throughout the journey. Ofcom gives go-ahead The Telegraph report says that Ofcom is ready give the plan the go-ahead, with French telecoms infrastructure company signed-up to install the tech. London is also testing Wi-Fi on the Tube, with Mayor Boris Johnson keen to make the whole city a wireless hotspot in time for the games in less than two years.

Channel Tunnel to get mobile coverage by 2012 Olympics?

Plans are afoot to bring mobile phone connectivity for passengers travelling on the Channel Tunnel in time for the 2012 London Olympics. The...

IBM foresees 3D holographic mobile calls by 2015

<img alt="IBM" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/logos/ibm-420-90.jpg" width="420"> The latest research from computing giant IBM claims that consumers should be able to buy mobile phones by 2015 that will project small 3D holographic images of the person they are calling. </IMG> The latest future forecasting comes straight out of International Business Machines' Almaden Research Center campus in the Santa Teresa Hills of San Jose, California. IBM also claims that, in addition to 3D holographic mobile calls, our mobile tablet PCs and laptops will be able to be powered by kinetic energy. Annual future-gazing list Every year the New York-based company asks its 3000 researchers to find five ideas which they think will become entrenched over the next five years. 3D holographic mobile conversations are at the top of the 2010 list of predictions from IBM. "These are all stretch goals, and that's good," Discern analyst Paul Saffo. "In an era when pessimism is the new black, a little dose of technological optimism is not a bad thing. "[IBM] has continued to do research when all the other grand research organizations are gone," added Saffo. IBM invested $5.8 billion in research and development last year. "All this demonstrates a real culture of innovation at IBM and willingness to devote itself to solving some of the world's biggest problems," said Josephine Cheng, a vice president at IBM's Almaden lab. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</A>

IBM foresees 3D holographic mobile calls by 2015

The latest research from computing giant IBM claims that consumers should be able to buy mobile phones by 2015 that will project small 3D ho...